as they kept counting votes today in florida, washington was counting, 53 days until the fiscal cliff. deep defense cuts and cuts in social service spending, and more ominously, tax hikes on everyone. that could spark a return to recession. says a senator who is bailing out of washington's gridlock. >> anything could serve as a trip wire to igniting another financial crisis. >> reporter: both sides are urging president obama to lead the way to a budget deal that avoids the cliff. after his victory tuesday, he's sure to demand, as part of any agreement to cut spending, a tax hike on the wealthy, says a top obama aide. >> he talked about it in the debate and speeches. balance deficit reduction included some revenues. and he was reelected by -- you know, in a significant way. >> reporter: house speaker republican john boehner seemed to signal he gets that. >> we're willing to accept some additional revenues via tax reform. we're willing to accept new revenue under the right conditions. >> reporter: but anti-tax conservatives are jumping in to clarify and warn the speaker not to buckle. >